These 15 young Canadians have been chosen to advise Prime Minister Trudeau

Justin Trudeau announced the first 15 members of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, this morning.

The young leaders, ages 16 to 24, were chosen from over 14,000 applications across the country. They will work with the prime minister to establish and broaden youth engagement initiatives in Canada.

“Countries that do not use the talents of all their citizens – regardless of ethnicity, gender or age – risk finding out that the status quo is no way to meet the very real challenges they face,” said Trudeau in a release.

“I am excited to work with the Youth Council, to invite them to take part in government policy, and to make clear to Canadian youth that there are many avenues for them to be the leaders of today.”

The Youth Council met with the prime minister this morning. Later this week, they will get straight to work, discussing youth employment, environment and climate change, gender-based violence, and youth services.

Mustafa Ahmed, grew up in Toronto’s Regent Park, which is also the largest social housing project in Canada. Ahmed is committed getting youth involved in arts and literature community programs, as well as helping new immigrants adjust to Canada.